There is a Spanish-Jewish folk-tale about a vampire cat called
'El Broosha.' According to legend, Lilith was the first wife of Adam, but left
him and flew away as a vampire. After becoming immortal she took the shape of a
large black cat that stalked babies at night, sucking out their blood. It
has been suggested by author Mildred Kirk that this myth could be the origin of
the idea that cats should not occupy the same room as a sleeping baby, as the
animal might suffocate the child by sitting on its face.